Clutch and brake system



March 9, 1943. R, wlLLlAMSON 2,313,187

CLUTCH AND BRAKE SYSTEM Filed April 1, 1939 SSheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. LARK/N R. WILLIAMSON ATTORN L. R. WILLIAMSON CLUTCH AND BRAKE SYSTEM March 9, 1943.

Filed April 1, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 W772i v I u ENE \mu 4 a 2 5 mmfiwfiw 9 INVENTOR- I LARK/N R. WILLIAMSON BY $47., M5 ATTO March 9, 1943. L. R WILLIAMSON 2,313,187

CLUTCH AND BRAKE SYSTEM Filed April l, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

LARK/N R \A/ILLIAMSON ATTORNEYS. V

' Patented Mar. 9, .1943

'cLU'rcn Ann BRAKE SYSTEM Larkin R..'Williamson, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to E. W. Bliss Company, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application April 1, 1939, Serial No. 265,474

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a clutch and a fluidoperated system therefor to engage a driving and driven member and establish a drive from a power means. The invention is more particularly concerned with a clutch and brake and a the engaged parts to sustain auniform drive during the interval desired.

The general object of my invention has been to provide a positive system for controlling the operation-of a clutch or the like and to apply a predetermined pressure and to maintain that pressure during the desired interval. An additional object of my invention has been to provide a system by-which pressure applied is built up tor winding is energized thebrake is held in released or unapplied position and that upon deenergizing the motor the springs apply the brake.

The system energized by the motor and brake unit is adapted to apply pressure to theclutch in two stages. The first stage is efi'ected by the motor and its magnetic brake to begin the operation of the machine controlled through the unit. Thereafter the second stage of fluid pressure is "applied, preferably through mechanism actuated by the movement of the machine set up by the first stage of pressure. This second pressure bep to create and maintain the desired pressure on related ends, said invention, then, consists of the in two stages, the first stage acting to begin the operation of the machine and the second stage acting to supplement the first during the work stroke of the device controlled thereby. Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and from the drawings."

In general I have provided a torque motor and a brake therefor as the power means for apply- 4 ing pressure to the fluid system. The operation of a torque motor is known and may be briefly described as acting to drive the driven member from the motor until a predetermined load is picked up. At this time the motor will stall and'remain stalled while holding the load. Such a motor is characterized by a winding with a much higher In conjunction with this motor I provide a brake,

comes effective prior to the work performing part of the machine movement and thus augments the initial pressure.

My system is preferably employed in connection with a combined clutch and brake unit and is employed to govern engagement and releasing of both the clutch and brake. Loaded springs. as hereafter described, function when the pressure is relieved in the system to release theclutch to apply the brake.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims; the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodyingthe invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, A

but oneof various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

. In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary'end elevation of a clutch and brake unit employing my invention Fig. 2 is a section therethrough as indicated by the lines 2-2 on Fig. 1; a

Fig. 3 shows details of, and connections in, the

fluid system employed to energize the clutch;

Fig. 4 is a section through Fig. 3 as;indicated by the lines 4-4 thereon;

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram for the torque motor and magnetic brake, and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary partially sectional view showingth'e relationship of the various parts.

- resistance than isprovided in ordinary motors.

preferably of the magnetic type. when the motor is energized for rotation the brake is inactive, but at the instant the motor is deenergized the to hold the motor shaft in the position attained. The brake remains effective until it is released v plate at I5 is a removable bearing unit It which brake is also deenergized and becomes engaged and maintains the fluid pressure in thesystem even though the motor is inactive.

Torque motors combined with magnetic brakes b ed to applied position but so longas. the mo:

Referring now to Figs. 1 and-2, there is shown at in a frame plate of a machine utilizing my invention. Bolted to the plate at I! are brackets M which support the brake unit, and bolted to the supports one end of the driven shaft. The other end is suitably supported at another point in the machine. This removable bearing comprises a cup IS with an inner face which receives the outer races of tapered roller bearings II. The inner races of the bearings are-secured to'the driven shaft 20. Suitable packing is provided to retain lubricant in effective relation to the bear'- ings.

'A flywheel 22 is idly carried on the-Shaft u by.

tapered roller bearings 23-. The outer periphery of the flywheel is grooved at 24 to receiver; series of v 2,313,1 7 um STATES PATliN T OFFIC \L-belts by which power froma prime mover is transmitted to the flywheel.

Keyed to the shaft at 25 is a hub 28 which and flange 32 are fixed with respect to each other by a removable key 34.

To engage the clutch, fluid pressure is employed to move the plate 38 toward the right (Fig. 2). To this end, four cylinders 35 are formed in the hub and receive respective pistons 81 which bear against pins 38 interposed between Caps '39 seal the the pistons'and the plate 38. cylinders and provide access thereto. The pins and pistons are normally maintained lightly against the plate 38 by compression springs 48 interposed between the caps and pistons, respectively.

Fluid under pressure, as hereafter described, is supplied to the cylinders through an end connection 42. -This end connection as shown in Fig. 2 i of the conventional type and the nonrotative portionis rigidly secured at 44 to the bearing cap l6. Connection 42 leads to an axial bore 45, passing through the shaft 28 and terminating adjacent passages leading therefrom to each of the four cylinders, respectively. Thus as fluid, preferably oil, under pressure, is supplied behind the pistons, the plate 38 is moved to the right (Fig. 2) to hold the clutch plates carried by the hub in driving engagement with a clutch plate 4! slidingly carried by the flywheel on pins 48.

To apply the brake and release the clutch, four bushings carried by studs 52. The studs in turn are provided with heads carried in the plate 38.

As the fluid pressure behind the piston 31 is released, the springs 58 expand and pull the plate 38 to the left (Fig. 2) to grip the brake plates carried by the hub in braking engagement with a brake member 55 slidingly carried by the brackets l4 on pins 56.

Thefluid system by which the clutch and brake are actuated is best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. To energize this system a torque motor 68 of characteristics already defined, carrying as an integral part therewith a magnetic brake 62, functions to drive a shaft 64 carrying a drive pinion 65. This pinion in turn engages with a gear 65 mounted on a shaft 61 carried by ball hearings in a housing 18. The shaft carries a cam 1|, keyed thereto at 12, which reciprocates a pump piston 13. The piston 181s carried in a cylinder 14 which is removably secured at to the housing 18. A relatively light compression spring I1 holds the piston in an upper position, as best shown in Fig. 3.

As the torque motor is rotated the piston is depressed until pressure is established in the system sufficient to stall the motor. The motor remains stalled during the operative cycle until it is reversed and returns to its initial position.

The initial pressure thus established is carried from the cylinder 14 through piping past a shut-ofi valve 8|:through a pipe 82 into the connection 42 leading to the pistons of the clutch and brake unit. This initial pressure engages the clutch with suflicient force to begin the oper-. ation of the machine with which my invention is used. Included in this machine is the mechanism for applying the second stage of pressure to the system.

A crank shaft 85 or similar driven element of the machine is suitably driven by the driven shaft 28 and operates the second stage fluid mechanism, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 6. Here such a shaft carries a cam 81 which is engaged by a follower 88 mounted in a piston comprising parts 98 and 9|. These two parts are normally separated to the extent allowed by a bolt 92 through the action of a loaded compression spring 95.

The spring i calibrated to compress at a predetermined pressure which will be the desired safe operating pressure of the system. Thus, if the positive action parts of the invention act to build up a pressure exceeding a safe limit, the

part 9| ofthe piston will stand idle while the part 98 will bedriven and the spring 95 compressed. The part 9| of this piston unit is formed at 96 to' traverse a cylinder 91 to apply the second stage of pressure through piping 98 and a check valve 99 to the pipe 82. The piston unit is normally held against the cam 81 by a light spring 89.

In operation, the dual pressure mechanism just described functions as follows. When the controlling switch l28 is depressed, the torque motor rotates, shifting the cam 1| to depress the piston 13 and apply a first stage of oil pressure behind the pistons 31, which'engages the clutch. This pressure is sufficient to apply the clutch with suflicient force to actuate the shaft 28 and through suitable connections such as the gearing 28 and 28" actuate the die slide I88 and can be adjusted within wide limits. As the machine is turned over, a movable part, such as the crank shaft 85, actuates the composite piston unit 98, 9| through the cam 81 to apply a second pressure higher than the first behind the pistons 31, which results in the application of the full operating pressure behind the clutch plates during the working stroke of the machine. Thus, the first application of pressure moves a relatively large volume of oil to shift the clutch plates into engagement while the second application of pressure acts, to increase the plate pressure with.

practically no further movement of the plates, The first stage oil pressure established by the motor 68 and piston 13 is efiective upon the pistons 31 between and after the application of said flrst stage oil pressure to the clutch device and the application of said-second or increased pressure, which second or increased pressure is established by the driving means above referred to and the composite piston unit 98, 9|.

The system is replenished with oil during each stroke of the pump. Each time the piston 18 is released to rise it. reduces the oil pressure in the adjacent part of the system because the pipe friction and oil viscosity retard the return flow of oil from the clutch, This drop in pressure draws oil into the system from the housing 18 through piping I and past a check valve I81. The valve acts as a seal when the system pressure is again built up. It thus follows that more oil will be drawn into the system than its normal capacity allows. As the brake springs 58 decrease this capacity the. excess flows back into the housing through a port I88 in cylinder 14 2,318,187 which is exposedwhen the piston has moved to the position of Fig. 3. On its down stroke the piston seals the port.

Small quantities of oil must be added from time to time to the high pressure cylinder 91. This'is accomplished through piping I09 con-. meeting the housing and the piping through a check valve IIO. Normally the valve H i held closed. However, as the amount of oil in the cylinder 91 drops below the required amount the suction created opens the valve H0 and draws oil into the cylinder 97.

The torque motor and magnetic brake are controlled as indicated by the wiring diagram of Fig. 5. Here a three-phase source of power is supplied to the connections at H5. This current is applied to the motor 60 and to the brake 52 through a forward switch II! or a reversing switch II8 by means of relay magnets Ill and H8, respectively, which serve to ,close said switches in the usual manner. The switches II?- and I I8 are electrically controlled from the main source of current by means of relays IN and I I8. As the normally open, main control switch I is closed, the current flows through the circuit and through a normally closed switch I to be hereinafter described, and energizes the relay Ill thus closing the forward switch ill to drive the torque motor 65 and apply the first stage of pressure to the clutch. After the clutch has been engaged, the workman releases the switch I20. This breaks the supply of current through the forward switch It'l to the motor 60 and brake 02, thus setting the brake 62 to hold the motor 60 in clutch-engaged position and removing the stalling load from the motor 50. When it is desired to release the clutch, a manual switch I2I may be thrown, which causes the current to pass through the relay .II8', thus closing the reversing switch 'I I8 and at the same time opening the circuit through relay Ill of the forward switch II'I, if such switch should be closed. The switch I2I functions solely as an emergency-stop switch since if the machine is switches is in engagement withthe high and low portions of the cam 81, the high portion of said continuous clutch engagement.

switch I 25 is opened, thereby breaking the circuit to the relay 1' of the forward switch III and completing the circuit to the relay H8 of the reversing switch II 8. Interlocking switches such as I25 and I25 in which aspring-pressed plunger is moved between spaced pairs of contacts, are quite old in the art of circuit makers and breakers and the details thereof form no part of applicants present invention. locking switches of this general type are adequately disclosed in such patents as 2,225,007, 2,221,216 and 2,165,809. In view of the'fact that such interlocking switches are old and well known, further illustration is not believed to be necessary since their manner of operation will be obvious to one skilled in the art. A line switch I 21 is provided which, when open, renders the switches I25 and I25 inactive and results in switch I21 is-closed, the circuit is then set up to disengage the clutch each time the switches I25 and I 25' are actuated.

The switches I25 and I25 will be closed and opened before the parts of the machine finally come to rest due to the inertia. and momentum of the machine parts. In this connection it will be noted that when the plunger of the switch I25 is released by riding on to the relatively short low portion of the cam 81, switch I25 will be closed to reverse the motor 50 to relieve the pressure on pistons 37 by relieving pressureion the piston I3 :and to permit the springs 50 to disengage the clutch. At that time the roller 80 still engages the high portion of the cam 8?,

thereby maintaining piston 95 in its elevated position. While the power applied to the shaft 85 and the cam 87 would then cease, the inertia and momentum of the machine parts will effect cam having a relativelylong circumferential" extent whereas the low portion of said cam is of 6 relatively short circumferential extent. The switch. I25 i opened when the low portion of cam 8! permits and is closed when the high portion of cam 81 depresses the spring-pressed plunger of said switch during rotation of said cam.- The switch I25 is normally closed, i. e., said switch is closed during the entire time that the springpressed plunger of said switch is in engagement with the relatively long high portion of cam 87, and is suitably connected to a normally open switch I25 in the circuit from the source of current to the relay H8 of the reversing switch I I8, so that as theswitch I25 opens when the plunger thereof rides on the relatively short low portion of cam 81, the switch I25 is closed and a sufllcient continued rotation of the shaft 05 and cam 81 to cause the high portion of the cam 87 to ride against the switch'plunger and the low portion of the cam 81 to engage the roller 00 thus permitting the piston to be lowered. Hence, the switch I25 will again be closed and the switch I25 will be opened and these switches returned to their normal operating positions, i. e., switch I25 is closed and switch I25 is opened so that further actuation of the main control' switch I20 will close the circuit through the relay III of forward switch II'I when it is again desired to engage the clutch for further machine operation. If, however, the switch I 25' is not opened by cam 81 before the machine stops, a limit switch I30 will function to open the re.- versing circuit. This switch I30 is mounted on the housing 10 in position to be engaged by an arm I32 carried on the shaft 61. Thu when the motor backs the shaft 67 enough to allow the piston I3 to assume the position ofFig. 3 thearm I32 opens the switch I30, which switch in turn causes the reversing switch II8 to open.

From the foregoing description it-will be seen that I have provided a novel control system for machine tools and the like which is adapted for a wide variety of uses and presents marked advantages over constructions heretofore used.

Other modes of applying theprinciple of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as-regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any 'of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

Inter- When the line I 1. In a clutch apparatus of the class described vfor coupling a machine to a source of power, a

' clutch device interposed between the machine and the source of power, fluid pressure means' clutch device interposed between the machine and the source of power, fluid pressure means to actuate said clutch, a device'to apply pressure to said pressure means, an electric motor to operate said device and tostall at a predetermined point in the application of pressure, and means automatically operable to hold said electric motor against movement when said motor is acting to hold said clutch engaged, a switch carried by the machine and adapted to be closed at a predetermined point in the machine operation,

' and means operative by said switch to reverse said motor to disengage said clutch.'

3. In a clutch apparatus oithe class described I for coupling a machine to a source of power, a

clutch device interposed between the machine and the source of power, means to actuate said clutch device by applying an operating pressure I thereto in two stages, power means to apply the first stage of operating pressure to said clutch to initiate a drive to said machine, a second means operative after said drive is initiated to apply the second stage of operating pressure to said clutch, and means to hold said power means against further movement when said power means is acting to hold said clutch engaged.

4. In a clutch apparatus of the class described for coupling a machine to a source of power, a clutch device interposed between the machine and the source of power, means including a first pump unit and a second pump unit to successively apply fluid pressures to said clutch device to actuate the same, power means to operate said first pump unit to apply an initial pressure to the machine, a driving member to operate said second pump unit to apply an increased operating pressure to said clutch device, and means to hold said power mean and first pump unit in pressure-maintaining position between and after the application of said initial pressure to said clutch device and the application of said increased operating pressure to said clutch device. 5. In a. clutch apparatus of the class described for coupling a machine to a source of power, a

clutch device interposed between the machine and the source of power, means including two pump units to apply fluid pressure to said clutch device to actuate the same, a reversible electric motor to operate one pump unit to apply an initial pressure to said clutch device sufllclent to begin operation of the machine, a driving meme bar to operate the other pump unit to apply an increased operating "pressure to said clutch, and

means to reverse said motor to release said one pump and release the fluid pressure to said clutch.

6. In a clutch apparatus of the class described for coupling a machine to a source of power, a. clutch device interposed between the machine pump units to apply fluid pressure to said clutch device toactuate the same, a reversible electric motor to operate one pump unit to apply an initial pressure to said clutch device suflicient to begin operation of the machine, a driving member to operate the other pump unit to apply an increased operating pressure to said clutch, a switch adapted to be actuated at a predetermined point in the operation of said machine, and means controlled by the operation of said switch to reverse saidmotor to release said one pump and release the fluid pressure to said clutch.

7. In a clutch apparatus of the class described for coupling a machine to a source of power, a clutch device interposed between the machine and the source of power, means including two pump units to apply fluid pressure 'to said clutch device to actuate the same, power means to operate one pump unitto apply an initial pressure;

to said'clutch device sufllcient to begin operation of the machine, a driving member operated by said machine to operate the other pump unit to apply an increased operating pressure to said clutch, and yieldablemeans in one of said two pumps operable to yield after the back pressure therein has reached a predetermined amount.

8. In a clutch and brake apparatus of the class described for alternately coupling a machine to a source of power or to a brake, a clutch device, a brake device, means normally tending to apply said brake device to hold said machine stationary, fluid means to simultaneously. actuate said clutch device, and release said brake, pumps to apply operating pressure to said fluid means in two stages, meansfor holding one of said pumps, and meansfor limiting the pressure created by one of said pumps.

9. In a clutch apparatus of the class described for coupling a machine to a'source of power, a clutch device interposed between the machine and the source of power, fluid operated means to actuate said clutch device, and pressure establishing means to apply pressure to said fluid opersa id clutch device sufficient to begin operation of ated means in two stages, saidlast named means including means for limiting the pressure of one of said stages.

10. In a clutch apparatus of the class described for coupling a machine to a source of power, a clutchdevice interposed between the machine and the source of power, means including two pump units to apply fluid pressure to said clutch and the source of power, means including two device to actuate the same, power means to operate one pump unit to apply an initial pressure to said clutch device sufllcient to begin operation of the machine and including means .for holding said pump unit, and a member driven by the machine to operate the other pump unit to apply an increased operating pressure to said clutch.

11. In a clutch apparatus of 'the class described for coupling a machine to a source of power, a clutch device interposed between the machine and the source of power, means including two pump units to apply fluid pressure to said clutch device to actuate the same, power means to operate one pump unit to apply an initial pressure to said clutch device, a driven member operated by said machine to operate the other pump unit to apply an increased operating pressure to said clutch device, and means for linfizting the pressure output of said other pump un LARKIN R. WILLIAMSON. 

